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Introduction: Several reports have noted that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) induced lymphopenia in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. However, the clinical significance of lymphopenia remains unclear. The objective of this study was to analyze the association between lymphopenia at an early stage and the prognosis of COVID-19 patients. Material and methods: All 192 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 were enrolled. Demographic data and clinical characteristics were collected and patient's prognosis was followed up. Results: On admission, 84 (43.8%) patients suffered from lymphopenia among COVID-19 patients. The count and percentage of lymphocytes on admission were lower among patients over 70 years old than those of younger patients. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that older age was a risk factor of lymphopenia. Of interest, chest CT score, a key marker of lung injury, was increased among COVID-19 patients with lymphopenia. By contrast, PaCO2, SpO2 and oxygenation index, several respiratory function markers, were decreased in COVID-19 patients with lymphopenia. Moreover, total bilirubin (TBIL) and direct bilirubin (DBIL), two markers of hepatic injury, creatinine and urea nitrogen, two indices of renal function, and creatine kinase, AST and LDH, three myocardial enzymes, were elevated in COVID-19 patients with lymphopenia. Among 84 COVID-19 patients with lymphopenia, 32.1% died. The fatality rate was obviously higher in COVID-19 patients with lymphopenia. Conclusions: Older COVID-19 patients are more susceptible to lymphopenia. Multiple organ injuries were more serious in COVID-19 patients with lymphopenia. Lymphopenia at an early stage aggravates the severity and elevates the death risk of COVID-19 patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided iodine-125 (125I) seed implantation in ampullary carcinoma (AC). Material and methods: From January 2011 to June 2020, 13 patients were selected for this retrospective study. Thirteen tumors (27.46 ±12.07 mm) were treated with EUS-guided 125I seed implantation in 29 sessions. We evaluated the therapeutic efficacy, adverse effects, and overall survival (OS) time. Results: Complete response (CR) was observed in one tumor in 6 months. Partial response (PR) was detected in two target tumors in 3 months, seven in 6 months, seven in 9 months, and six in 12 months. Good periods of survival were observed. The median OS was 35 months, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was 8.97 to 61.03 months. The 1-, 2-, and 5-year OS rates were 100%, 67.5%, and 11.3%, respectively. There were no procedure-related deaths or serious adverse events. Transient abdominal pain (5 cases, 17.2%), abdominal distension and loss of appetite (3 cases, 10.3%), and seed migration (1 case, 3.4%) were observed, respectively. Conclusions: In selected patients with inoperable AC, EUS-guided 125I seed implantation is feasible and safe with favorable local control efficacy and OS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]